Housing and Dangerous Buildings

Housing and Dangerous Buildings staff enforces City and State mandated codes relating to residential and commercial structures that are dangerous, substandard, blighted, or vacant. This division also enforces codes related to pests and mechanical noise through our environmental health section.

Building owners are legally required to maintain their property to the standards set forth in the City Housing and Dangerous Building Codes. If a structure is to remain vacant for more than one month, the owner is required to pay a monitoring fee to the City. In addition, fines may be levied if the property is not clean and secure.

Vacant building ordinance

Properties that are vacant and neglected can be cited as a public nuisance after 30 days. If one or more of these conditions exist, the structure and/or property will be cited as a public nuisance after 30 days:

Exterior not up to Code

Windows and/or doors are boarded, not ready for occupancy

Structure is a neighborhood blight and may include debris or broken windows

Structure attracts transients or crime

Structure is neglected by owner

Paint peeling throughout structure

Lawn not mowed, little or no care to yard

Junk and debris on property

The City of Sacramento revised its vacant building ordinance by decreasing the time a structure may be declared a nuisance, increasing fees and penalties and streamlining the vacant building enforcement process.

The owner of a vacant building in violation may now be cited with administrative penalties after an initial 30 days and every 30 days thereafter;

A monthly monitoring fee of $305 is imposed in addition to a $400 enforcement response fee for each time a building inspector is called to the vacant building site;

A penalty up to $1,000 is imposed for the first violation and up to $5,000 for every 30 days for every subsequent violation;

The new ordinance places a new requirement of posting a notice in a conspicuous place on the front of the building stating the name, address, and phone number of the owner(s) of the property.